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Guest
Column: State Sen. Tom O'Mara

"STOP t-e-x-t-i-n-g while
driving"

ALBANY, Feb. 27 -- Of all the many statistics being used
to highlight the dangers of distracted driving – in other words,
driving while talking or texting on a cellphone, or even now, unbelievably,
browsing the Web on a smartphone – maybe this one drives the point
home most of all: police officers in New York State have issued 118,757
tickets since July 2011 for using an electronic handheld device while
driving.

That’s
according to the Cuomo administration, which recently released the latest
data on the same day that the Senate Transportation Committee held a public
hearing on the issue in Albany. It’s more than enough to confirm
the concern raised by many transportation safety experts that distracted
driving has become an epidemic across the nation.

“These numbers speak for themselves,” said State Police Superintendent
Joseph D’Amico, who testified at the Senate hearing.

And the numbers remain striking despite New York State having one of
the strongest anti-distracted-driving laws in America. Last year the Legislature
overwhelmingly approved and Governor Cuomo signed into law legislation
strengthening New York’s laws by elevating text messaging while
driving from a secondary to a primary violation, making it allowable for
police officers to stop drivers texting while driving without the requirement
of another, “predicate” offense being committed. The penalties
for using a cellphone while driving were also increased from two to three
points on a driver's license.

At our recent Senate hearing, we heard testimony from National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) Vice Chairman Christopher Hart who stressed that research
shows the “increasing use” of handheld devices by motorists.
Ticketing has skyrocketed, many argue, but there’s no corresponding
drop in distracted drivers. The purpose of the recent Senate hearing was
to explore if enforcement of New York’s current anti-distracted-driving
laws can be enhanced, how to improve educational efforts, and if current
driver education curriculums can do a better job of reaching young drivers.

Why the alarm? Federal data shows 16,000 deaths nationwide due to texting
while driving. Other studies have shown that drivers are 23 percent more
likely to be involved in an accident while text messaging. According to
the Centers for Disease Control, more than 15 people are killed and over
1,200 people injured every day in distracted driving crashes. How about
this one: a driver who’s texting takes his or her eyes off the road
for at least five seconds. Traveling at 55 miles per hour, that’s
enough time to drive the length of a football field without paying attention
to the road ahead – and plenty of time to cross into the path of
an oncoming vehicle.

But no black-and-white statistic can match personal testimony like the
testimony we heard at our recent hearing from a young woman named Jacy
Good. In 2008, on the day of her college graduation, she and her parents
were hit by an 18-year-old driver who ran a red light while talking on
a cell phone. Her parents were killed. Jacy was seriously injured. She’s
lost the use of one arm.

“I was in a coma for my parents’ funeral. I didn’t get
to go,” Jacy said in her powerful testimony before the Senate. As
Jacy’s recovered, she’s become a national spokesperson in
the effort to prevent distracted driving. Her story is heartbreaking.
But it’s helping to save other lives.

As a result of last year’s law, the state Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) now includes additional training for new drivers as part of the
enhanced effort to deter distracted driving. The DMV, in partnership with
the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, provides educational resources
for parents and teens to help them understand the danger, which you can
find online at: http://www.safeny.ny.gov/phon-ndx.htm

Talking and texting behind the wheel is a tragedy waiting to happen. It’s
one of the most dangerous pitfalls of this age of technology.

Right now we can only hope that the tougher laws, stricter enforcement
and better education will help restore some common sense and safety to
New York’s roadways – and save lives.